Frisco's decade

Gregg Gamble poses for a portrait at his home in Frisco on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009. Gamble moved to Frisco in 1998 when it was a small town.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


Gregg Gamble poses for a portrait at his home in Frisco. Gamble has seen Frisco grow into a commercial shopping magnet and become a full city in the last decade.

Please read, "Dallas, Irving, Frisco offer different takes on the changes of the decade"

New Spain concert

Members of the Orchestra of New Spain perform during a concert at Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.



photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


Concertmaster Kristin Van Cleve tunes the orchestra before an Orchestra of New Spain concert at Christ the King Catholic Church.




Orchestra of New Spain music director Grover Wilkins takes a bow during a concert in Dallas.




Members of the Orchestra of New Spain perform during a concert at Christ the King Catholic Church. The orchestra performs many 18th Century baroque and classical-period music and incorporates period instruments.


Audience members listen during an Orchestra of New Spain concert at Christ the King Catholic Church.


Music director Grover Wilkins directs as a quartet sings during an Orchestra of New Spain concert in Dallas.


Cellist Gyongy Erodi laughs with other performers before an Orchestra of New Spain concert at Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas.



Please read the classical music review "Dallas' Orchestra of New Spain performs grand Christmas concert" by Scott Cantrell / The Dallas Morning News

Holmes fans deduce in Diogenes Club

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

A Sherlock Holmes-inspired hunting cap sits on a barstool during a meeting of the Diogenes Club at The Londoner restaurant in Addison on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. The Diogenes Club caters to Sherlock Holmes fans.


Jack Pugh of Farmers Branch pulls tables together at The Londoner restaurant in Addison before a meeting of the Diogenes Club.


Group leader Jim Webb (left to right) greets members as Don Hobbs of Flower Mound and Jack Pugh of Farmers Branch look at memorabilia before a meeting of the Diogenes Club.


Sherlock Holmes memorabilia is displayed during a meeting of the Diogenes Club at The Londoner restaurant in Addison.




David Horton of Farmers Branch sips a beer during a meeting of the Diogenes Club at The Londoner restaurant.


Jack Pugh of Farmers Branch (center) and Marland Henderson of Dallas (right of center) share a laugh during a meeting of the Diogenes Club at The Londoner restaurant in Addison.


Don Hobbs of Flower Mound (right) reads a radio script presented by Dean Clark, founding member of the Tulsa Diogenes Club, (left) during a meeting of the Diogenes Club at The Londoner restaurant in Addison.

Please read, "Sherlock Holmes fans hopeful and skeptical before movie opens" by Chris Whitley.

Waxahachie vs. Texarkana football playoff

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Texarkana Texas quarterback Nathan Sorenson (8) pushes past Waxahachie's Oshae Cofer (5) during an area playoff football game at Royse City ISD Stadium in Royse City on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.


Waxahachie's Allen Hogan (73) tries to find a handle on Texarkana Texas' Kody Sutton (33) as Devin Chandler (22) approaches during a playoff game at Royse City ISD Stadium.


Waxahachie's Sam Gagliano (4) sprints away from Texarkana Texas' Levi Saxby (16) during a football game in Royse City.


Waxahachie's LaJordan Easley (33) looks for an opening in Texarkana Texas' defense during an area playoff game.


Waxahachie quarterback Venique Benton (3) hands the ball to Jamison Sterns (23) as James Mann (50) blocks Texarkana Texas' Marlon Cooks (55) during a playoff game in Royse City. Benton was injured shortly afterward.


Waxahachie's Sam Gagliano (4) takes a snap as quarterback as Aaron Ernst (68) blocks during a playoff game against Texarkana Texas.




Waxahachie's Jamison Sterns (23) trudges over the goal line for a touchdown as Texarkana Texas' Levi Saxby (16) approaches during an area playoff football game at Royse City ISD Stadium.

Highland Park vs. Cedar Hill hoops

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Highland Park's David Allen (21) keeps the ball away from Cedar Hill's Kendrick Fugett (14) during a high school basketball game at Highland Park High School on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009.


Highland Park's Ben Strodel (23) shoots over Cedar Hill's Zeldric King (34) during a basketball game in Highland Park.




Highland Park's Rex Huddleston (33) blocks the shot of Cedar Hill's Billy Johnson (30) during a game at Highland Park High School.




Cedar Hill's Anthony Wilson (32) passes over his shoulder as Highland Park's Daniel Edwards (32) tries to block during a high school basketball game at Highland Park High School.

Smart Art

photos © Mark M. Hancock for The Texas Catholic

Guests are framed by "Properties of Space," a sculpture by Juanluis Gonzales, during the Smart Art at the Andelon Art Gallery in Dallas on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. The sale featured art donated by Dallas-area artists to benefit the St. Mary of Carmel School.


St. Mary of Carmel School teachers Lynn Moeller (left) and Gerardo Romo (right) admire the art during the Smart Art at the Andelon Art Gallery.


St. Mary of Carmel School principal Thom Suhy (top) addresses guests during the Smart Art at the Andelon Art Gallery.


Jody Jaspersen, a sponsor, chats with buyers during the Smart Art at the Andelon Art Gallery.




Guests and artists, who donated the art works, mingle during the Smart Art at the Andelon Art Gallery in Dallas.

St. Cecilia breaks ground

photos © Mark M. Hancock for The Texas Catholic

Members of the St. Cecilia Matachines Group prepare before a ground breaking ceremony at St. Cecilia church in Dallas on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.


Elba Garcia, chair of the capital campaign committee and Dallas mayor pro tem, addresses attendees during a ground breaking ceremony at St. Cecilia church. The church was destroyed by a fire on Aug. 17, 2007.




Bishop Kevin J. Farrell (left) blesses the ground during a ground breaking ceremony at St. Cecilia church. The site of the old church will become a prayer garden while the new church will be in a different location in the $7 million project.




St. Cecilia 1st-grader Diego Cazares, 6, is anxious to participate during a ground breaking ceremony at St. Cecilia church in Dallas.

Plano East vs. Irving MacArthur playoff

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Irving MacArthur's Daniel Vinson (27) prepares to sack unaware Plano East quarterback Ryan Foster (6) during a high school playoff football game at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.


Irving MacArthur quarterback Jason Frimpong (3) rolls out for a pass during a playoff football game against Plano East at Standridge Stadium



Plano East's D'Lyle Washington (3) advances the ball against Irving MacArthur during a playoff football game in Carrollton.




Irving MacArthur's James Sims (5) blocks for quarterback Jason Frimpong (3) during a playoff football game against Plano East at Standridge Stadium.


Plano East's Brandon Lewis (27) runs past teammate Michael Osinloye (21) during a playoff football game against Irving MacArthur.


Plano East's Sam Trotter (20) tackles Irving MacArthur's Johnny Haynes (2) during a playoff football game in Carrollton.



Irving MacArthur's James Sims runs with the ball during a playoff football game against Plano East at Standridge Stadium.



Plano East's Brandon Lewis (27) gets stopped by Irving MacArthur's Ray Mitchell (1) during a high school playoff football game at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton.



Plano East won 27-26 and advanced.

Dallas vs. Sacramento basketball

Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki (41) moves around Sacramento's Andres Nocioni (5) during an NBA basketball game at American Airlines Center on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


Mavericks' Jason Kidd (2) tries to move past Sacramento's Tyreke Evans (13) during a basketball game at American Airlines Center.



Mavericks' Drew Gooden (90) tries to get past Sacramento's Spencer Hawes (31) during a basketball game at American Airlines Center.



Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki (41) gets fouled at the net by Sacramento's Andres Nocioni (5) during an NBA basketball game at American Airlines Center. The Mavs won the game 104-102.



Please read, "Dallas Mavericks win fifth straight, but it's a grind" by Eddie Sefko / The Dallas Morning News

Chris Brown concert

Chris Brown performs a concert of the Fan Appreciation Tour at The Palladium Ballroom in Dallas on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009.


photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News


Chris Brown performs a concert of the small-venue "Fan Appreciation Tour" at The Palladium Ballroom. Brown is known for both his singing and dancing abilities. A year ago, he topped the charts and filled arenas.




Chris Brown performs "I Can Transform Ya," from his forthcoming album Graffiti during a concert in Dallas. After a violent incident in February against then-girlfriend Rihanna, Brown pleaded guilty in June to felony assault. He was sentenced to probation and community service.




Chris Brown performs a concert of the "Fan Appreciation Tour." Some ticket sales proceeds will go to the Best Buddies International and The Jenesse Center charities.




Chris Brown performs a concert of the "Fan Appreciation Tour" at The Palladium Ballroom in Dallas. There were plenty of screaming women at the concert to support Brown and start his career's recovery.



Please read, "Concert review: Chris Brown still draws fans" by Hunter Hauk / Quick